'You have a little anxiety when this happens': Milwaukee homeowners prepare for storm season again, 7 months after historic flooding

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Severe weather in the forecast is a sign that the rainy season is starting up again.

For many homeowners in Milwaukee, that means checking on the basement, especially as some are still recovering from last summer's historic flooding.

Though major flooding isn't expected this time around, the potential for strong storms has some neighbors crossing their fingers.

It has been seven months since historic flooding damaged thousands of Milwaukee-area homes, including the one Thomas Ewert and his wife, Cynthia, have lived in for 40-plus years.

"We had to have water heater replaced, furnace replaced, and our washer and dryer replaced," Thomas Ewert said.

Like many of their neighbors in Wilson Park, they spent last august soaking up their flooded basement.

"We lost 3 Christmas trees, ornaments that were irreplaceable," he said.

"A lot of our stuff ended up in the front yard," Cynthia Ewert said.

Thankfully, their, homeowners' insurance and FEMA assistance came through, covering $12,000 worth of damage.

It wasn't their first flood at this house, and they've realized that it may not have been the last.

"There's really nothing you can do," Thomas explained. "It's basically sit and wait when something happens and hope you don't get water in your basement."

Stormy days, like Friday, remind the Ewerts to stay prepared.

"You have a little anxiety when this happens," Thomas said. "That kind of sticks in your head."

"We bought new things, new Christmas tree, some ornaments - they're all upstairs in the spare bedroom now," Cynthia said. "Nothing is down here."

They even made sure to increase their insurance coverage.

"I feel a little better knowing that if we had a flood again - I hope we don't - but that that would cover the cleanup and everything else," Thomas explained. "I'm getting up there in age now and that was kind of rough on me."

Thomas said he wasn't too concerned about Friday night's storms.

"Being that we've lived here x-amount of years, I know when the heavy rain's coming, and it's generally not this time of year," he said, noting summer is the higher-risk season.

The Ewerts are also keeping an eye on sewer drains during their dog-walks through the neighborhood, hoping they won't become clogged by leaves or debris.